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PowerShell Module

Pipeline module: local pipeline runner

Module: businessdev.ALbuild.Pipeline  •  Tier: Free  •  Cmdlets: 1

Invoke-ALbuildPipeline runs an ALbuild Azure DevOps pipeline YAML template on your machine, step by step, the way the agent would. Because it parses the same template the cloud pipeline uses, a local run reflects the real pipeline from a single source of truth.

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How it works

For the parsed template it:

1. Resolves parameters: the template's parameters defaults, overridden by -Parameters.
2. Expands expressions: compile-time ${{ parameters.* }} and the ${{ if }} / ${{ each }} directives, plus $(var) macros from the environment and from earlier steps' outputs.
3. Flattens stages → jobs → steps (and a deployment job's runOnce.deploy.steps) into an ordered step list.
4. Runs each step:
   • task: Name@n → finds the matching extension task.ps1, sets its INPUT_* environment variables and runs it in a child PowerShell process, capturing ##vso[task.setvariable] outputs so later steps can read them via $(var).
   • pwsh: / powershell: → runs the inline script (also capturing set-variable commands).
   • publish: → logged (artifacts are not uploaded for a local run).
   • condition: always() / succeededOrFailed() still run after a previous failure; the run then reports the failure at the end.

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Prerequisites

• The businessdev.ALbuild module (installed from the Gallery or from the repository src).
• powershell-yaml (installed on demand for the current user the first time you run it).
• For the container CI template: Windows + Docker. For Universal-feed steps: the Azure CLI.

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Usage

Code
Import-Module businessdev.ALbuild
Invoke-ALbuildPipeline -Path templates/yaml/ci-pipeline.yml `
    -Parameters @{ country = 'de'; projectFolder = 'app' } `
    -RepositoryRoot 'D:\Code\DevOps\Customer\D365BC-Core'

The variables Azure DevOps normally injects (Build.*, System.*, signing/feed secrets, container settings) are read from the environment. Set them first, the easiest way is the sample script templates/local/Run-ALbuildPipeline.sample.ps1, which sets placeholder values and then calls Invoke-ALbuildPipeline.

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Invoke-ALbuildPipeline

Runs an ALbuild Azure DevOps pipeline YAML template locally, step by step.

Parameters

Parameter	Description
-Path	The pipeline YAML template to run.
-Parameters	Hashtable of template parameter overrides; unset parameters use the template default.
-RepositoryRoot	The AL repository the steps build. Defaults to BUILD_REPOSITORY_LOCALPATH or the current location.
-TasksRoot	The extension Tasks folder. Defaults to the ALbuild repo's extension/Tasks next to the module.
-PowerShellExe	PowerShell executable used to run each task. Defaults to the current host.

Output

A summary object: Steps (each with Label and Succeeded) and Failed. The cmdlet throws if any step failed, after running any always() cleanup steps.

Example

Code
Invoke-ALbuildPipeline -Path templates/yaml/ci-pipeline.yml -Parameters @{ country = 'w1' }